EVANS WANTS SMITH IN TRENCHES

Welsh super-featherweight champion Mark Evans (9-0-1, 1KO) is planning to take Southern Area champion Mitchell Smith (7-0, 3KO) to the trenches when they fight on Saturday. The pair, both unbeaten, will fight in an eight round contest on Frank Warren’s ‘The Bashes’ show on February 22nd at London’s iconic York Hall. “We’ll see how it pans out but I’m going to try get him in to the trenches. That’s what I plan on doing, get him in the trenches and keep him there,” said Evans who is trained by Gary Booth and starts his weekday gym work at 5:30am. “I’ve not seen him fight but I think I’m getting him at the right time. I know he’s a good kid, he’s very tricky and he’s skillful. If I give him enough time, move around the ring and stand off him then he’s good. So I’m going to have to put it straight on him – that’s the plan anyway.” Despite having always been in the ‘home’ corner, Evans has never fought in Wales but he has a large local fan base in Holyhead and 40 of them will make the 560 mile round journey to Bethnal Green. In his only experience of boxing a local opponent, Evans stopped Lee Jennings in two rounds in Liverpool and he knows he needs a similar showing against Smith. He said, “I’ll have to win clearly to get it, I have to put on a good performance. It’s a Frank Warren show and he (Smith) is a Frank Warren lad. So, I know I’ve got my work cut out for me but I plan on putting on my best performance to date. “I believe it’ll be a tough fight but I’ve done my training, I’ll be alright and I’m going to London to win the fight. Everything has been going good and I’m hoping this will get me up there, right in the mix.” In his only career slip up, Evans dropped a draw over four rounds to Scott Moises, the same opponent who Smith beat by a point over ten rounds. With being 11 years older than Smith, the Welshman recognises that he has a bit more to lose but he’s reluctant to look too far ahead before facing the aptly named ‘Baby Faced Assassin. He said, “We’ve both got a lot at stake, I’ve got a bit more because my age is against me. Mitchell Smith is only 21, he’ll have his chance and come again. He’s a young lad but I’m 32. It’s alright though, I’ve got a lot of time left in boxing yet. “I know my age but I feel absolutely great, I’m fit and confident. I’ve got my feet on the ground, I’ve got a great girlfriend behind me, my little kids and I’m happy with it all. As long as I look after myself, I can carry on boxing for a while yet but I have to take one fight at a time and next up is Mitchell Smith on Saturday.” Remaining tickets priced at £40 and £60 are available from Queensberry Promotions on 01992 550 888.The show will be televised live and exclusive in the UK on BoxNation (Sky 437/HD 449 and Virgin 546).Join at www.boxnation.com